The long-awaited season opener at the MCG turned out to be a one-sided affair, with Carlton far too good for Richmond. Once Jarrad Waite drifted forward to kick the opening goal of the match at the 2-minute mark, it was all one-way traffic as the Blues raced through 8 goals to 3 in the opening quarter. Waite spent much of the first half on Matthew Richardson, but drifted away from him to kick 3 goals; while Eddie Betts was also in outstanding form up forward.Richmond threatened to come back in the second quarter, cutting the margin to 23 points as the clock ticked into time-on, but a 3-goal burst to the Blues undid all Richmond's work; and from there there was no suggestion the Tigers were anywhere near good enough to work their way back into the contest.The keenly anticipated battle of the former Eagle captains went the way of Chris Judd. Not only was he in dominant form to rank among Carlton's best, but Cousins, in a Tiger jumper for the first time, tore his hamstring and looks set for a few weeks on the sidelines. It was the culmination of a horrible night for the Tigers.Carlton 8.4 13.5 18.19 23.12 (150)Richmond 3.4 6.7 8.10 9.13 (67)Goals : Carlton - E Betts 5, J Waite 3, M Robinson 3, B Fevola 2, C Judd 2, S Wiggins 2, M Murphy 2, R Hadley, J Garlett, M Kreuzer, J Russell. Richmond - M Morton 4, M Richardson, J Schulz, T Simmonds, J Riewoldt, R Tambling.Best : Carlton - S Wiggins, R Hadley, M Murphy, B Gibbs, K Simpson, C Judd. Richmond - M Richardson, T Simmonds, M Morton, N Foley, C Newman, B Deledio.Injuries : Carlton - Nil. Richmond - B Cousins (hamstring), A Raines (knee).Reports : Carlton - K Simpson for making forceful front-on contact on D Jackson in the first quarter. Umpires - C Donlan, M Vozzo, S McLaren.Crowd - 86,972 at MCG.

Geelong gained some form of revenge over Hawthorn for last year's grand final result, but the Cats had to withstand a strong late charge from the Hawks before taking out the match by just 8 points.The Cats were the better side for much of the day, and should have been further in front but for some wasteful finishing in front of goal. But they hit their straps in the third term, a 6 goals to 2 quarter extending the lead to 37 points at the last change and to 43 at the 5 minute mark of the last term. The Cats had winners around the ground, with Brad Ottens dominating the ruck and Gary Ablett again in scintillating form.But the Hawks suddenly returned to form and came storming home with the last 6 points of the game. Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead scored 3 goals apiece during the quarter, the final goal at the 26 minute mark reducing the margin to just 7 points. But that was as close as the Hawks got, as the Cats hung on for dear life to take the game and spoil Hawthorn's flag unfurling.Geelong 4.8 8.16 14.19 15.21 (111)Hawthorn 3.2 8.4 10.6 16.7 (103)Goals : Geelong - R Gamble 2, S Johnson 2, C Mooney 2, M Rooke 2, G Ablett, M Blake, P Chapman, C Enright, T Longeran, A Mackie, T Varcoe. Hawthorn - L Franklin 5, J Roughead 4, S Dew 2, M Osborne 2, C Bateman, C Rioli, C Stokes.Best : Geelong - B Ottens, S Johnson, G Ablett, P Chapman, J Bartel, J Corey. Hawthorn -C Bateman, S Mitchell, T Tuck, L Franklin, B Sewell, G Birchall.Injuries : Geelong - Nil. Hawthorn - M Osborne (hamstring).Reports - Nil. Umpires - S McBurney, S Wenn, S Ryan.Crowd - 69,593 at MCG.

Tipped to be title contenders this season, Collingwood were hot favourites to beat Adelaide at home; even more so after Travis Cloke kicked the opening goal of the match wihin 20 seconds of the first bounce. But Adelaide proved hard to penetrate after that point, with the Magpies not to trouble the scorers again until moments before quarter time. By then the Crows had scored 5 goals, with midfielders Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards running riot. The Crows maintained their advantage in the second term, although Collingwood's accuracy was keeping them in the contest.The Magpies came out swinging after the long break, a run of 5 straight goals turning a 13-point deficit into an 18-point lead. But again the momentum of the game shiftted, with late goals to Petrenko, Van Berlo and Douglas levelling the scores at the last change.The final quarter was an arm-wrestle, with the ball travelling from end to end but neither side able to get a goal on the board. But finally it was the Magpies who cracked and the Crows scored 2 crucial goals. The Magpies got one back with 5 minutes to go, but the final goal they needed to snatch victory would not be forthcoming and the Crows celebrated a morale-boosting first-up victory.Adelaide 5.5 8.8 11.9 13.12 (90)Collingwood 2.0 7.1 12.3 13.8 (86)Goals : Adelaide - S Stevens 3, N Van Berlo 2, J Porplyzia, R Douglas, T Walker, N Bock, P Dangerfield, J Petrenko, C Knights. Collingwood - J Anthony 2, M Clarke 2, T Cloke 2, N Maxwell 2, P Medhurst 2, L Davis, D Swan, S Pendlebury.Best : Adelaide - B Vince, T Edwards, A McLeod, N Van Berlo, S Goodwin, C Knights. Collingwood - S Pendlebury, S O'Bree, D Swan, L Davis, S Cox, T Lockyer.Injuries : Adelaide - Nil. Collingwood - Nil.Reports - Nil. Umpires - M Nicholls, J Schmidt, S Meredith.Crowd - 41,591 at MCG.

A shocking fadeout after quarter time was to cost Sydney dearly, as the Swans failed to capitalise on some good work in the first term and instead allowed St Kilda to seize the initiative and ultimately to take control of the match.Barry Hall kicked the opening goal, what would be his only goal for the night, as the Swans got off to a flying start. By quarter time their midfield was looking strong as the Swans led by 27 points. But the game was to change dramatically after quarter time. Stephen Milne goaled in the opening minute, but that was to be a rare highlight during a second quarter in which the familiar flooding tactics were employed by both sides.The Saints killed any semblance of cohesion and drive by the Swans in the third term, tight checking and heavy tackling ensuring the Swans were never able to move the ball. The Swans were not to score for the quarter, while St Kilda added 5.2 to lead by 24 points. Nick Dal Santo and Luke Ball were taking possessions at will, while a spectacular mark from Justin Koschitske provided some entertainment value that the tactics employed ensured much of the game would lack. Although Sydney won the last quarter with the last 4 goals of the game, St Kilda had the game in hand and would go on to win by 15 points.St Kilda 1.1 4.4 9.6 12.8 (80)Sydney 5.4 5.6 5.6 9.11 (65)Goals : St Kilda - S Milne 3, B Goddard 2, N Dal Santo 2, M Gardiner 2, J Koschitske, A McQualter, J Gram. Sydney - H Grundy 2, B Hall, P Bevan, K Jack, D Jolly, A Goodes, M Mattnew, R O'Keefe.Best : St Kilda - N Dal Santo, L Ball, F Ray, B Goddard, J Koschitske, S Gilbert. Sydney - C Bird, R Shaw, A Goodes, L Roberts-Thompson, B Kirk, R O'Keefe.Injuries : St Kilda - R Clarke (hamstring). Sydney - Nil.Reports - Nil. Umpires - B Rosebury, R Chamberlain, C Kamolins.Crowd - 34,442 at Docklands.

Michael Voss tasted victory in his debut appearance as Brisbane coach, but the Lions' mentor was to face some worrying moments during the first half; as the Lions were forced to come from behind against a plucky West Coast to take the points.With Mark LeCras presenting himself as a target up forward, and with big Dean Cox having the better of the ruck, the Eagles made the early front-running, and during the second term had extended the lead to 38 points. But the Lions worked hard, cutting the margin back to 19 points by half time; and then in a blistering third term running through 9 goals to 2 to take the lead and then holding tight in the last quarter as the Eagles were only able to make a slight improvement to the margin.With small forward Rhan Hooper hitting his straps in the third term, kicking 3 for the quarter, while the twin targets of Daniel Bradshaw and Jonathan Brown again looking dangerous in the forward line, the Lions were able to achieve the victory that was looking doubtful in the second term; an all-important result during their first home game for the season.Brisbane 2.1 5.3 14.6 14.11 (95)West Coast 6.2 9.4 11.8 13.8 (86)Goals : Brisbane - R Hooper 4, D Bradshaw 3, J Brown 3, T Johnstone, M Rischitelli, A McGrath. West Coast - M LeCras 6, A Hansen 3, D Cox, D Kerr, M Hurn, Q Lynch.Best : Brisbane - T Johnstone, L Power, J MacDonald, B Dalziell, R Hooper, M Rischitelli. West Coast - C Fletcher, D Cox, M LeCras, A Hansen, M Priddis, Q Lynch.Injuries : Brisbane - S Black (wrist) replaced in selected side by J Charman. West Coast - Nil.Reports - Nil. Umpires - H Kennedy, S Stewart, M Avon.Crowd - 26,800 at Gabba.

It wasn't a match that reached any great heights, and both sides will need to show considerable improvement if they wish to have any hope of competing in playoff action; but North Melbourne did enough to record an important first-up victory by 34 points over Melbourne at the MCG.The Kangaroos always looked likely winners, but they found the Demons a hard side to shake off. Scores were level at the first change, but the Kangaroos were only able to increase their lead slowly; and by three quarter time still only had a 16-point advantage; before a 4 goals to 1 final quarter put the isue beyond doubt.North Melbourne 3.3 7.6 11.8 15.11 (101)Melbourne 3.3 6.5 9.6 10.7 (67)Goals : North Melbourne - H McIntosh 3, L Thomas 2, D Petrie 2, M Campbell 2, B Harvey, S McMahon, L Harding, A Simpson, D Hale, M Firrito. Melbourne - R Petterd 2, B Green 2, M Bate, A Davey, B Moloney, N Jetta, C Morton, P Johnson.Best : North Melbourne - L Harding, H McIntosh, A Simpson, D Wells, D Petrie, S Power. Melbourne - J McDonald, B Moloney, R Petterd, P Johnson, C Bruce, R Cheney.Injuries : North Melbourne - Nil. Melbourne - Nil.Umpires - S Grun, S McInerney, J Mollison.Crowd - 28,707 at MCG.

Winning at Subiaco is never easy for an eastern states team, but the Western Bulldogs recorded a valuable 4 points when they demolished Fremantle by 63 points at Whitten Oval.A burst by the Bulldogs late in the second quarter saw the margin blow out from 12 points to 35 during the time-on period. While Fremantle tried hard to peg back the deficit in the third term, inaccuracy was to cost them dearly. Amazingly, despite the lopsided nature of the final scoreline, the Bulldogs only managed 3 more scoring shots than the Dockers; the size of the win being a tribute to the Bulldogs' superior accuracy and more efficient ability to capitalise on their opportunities.And when the Bulldogs regained the momentum in the last quarter, it became a blowout; with the Bulldogs running through 8 goals to 1 to register a final margin of 63 points to a game that for much of the day looked likely to be considerably closer. Mitch Hahn scored 5 for the Bulldogs, while Griffen, Gilbee and Eagleton each managed 3.Western Bulldogs 6.1 13.4 17.4 25.7 (157)Fremantle 4.4 7.5 12.12 13.16 (94)Goals : Bulldogs - M Hahn 5, R Griffen 3, L Gilbee 3, N Eagleton 3, S Higgins 2, J Akermanis 2, D Giansiracusa 2, D Addison, A Cooney, M Boyd, D Cross, C Ward. Fremantle - B Peake 3, Michael Johnson 2, S Hill, R Palmer, M Pavlich, B Schammer, L McPharlin, R Murphy, N Suban.Best : Bulldogs - D Giansiracusa, L Gilbee, R Hargrave, S Higgins, M Boyd, D Cross. Fremantle - S Dodd, R Palmer, B Schammer, P Duffield, B Peake, A Sandilands.Injuries : Bulldogs - Nil. Fremantle - Nil.Reports - Nil. Umpires - M James, M Stevic, T Keating.Crowd - 33,634 at Subiaco Oval.